What Does It Mean To Have A Dopamine Deficiency?

When
you
have
a
dopamine
deficiency,
this
means
that
you
have
a
low
dopamine
level.
Dopamine
is
important
to
a
person's
physical
and
mental
health,
so
a
lack
of
dopamine
can
potentially
lead
to
a
variety
of
problems.

What
Is
Dopamine?

Dopamine
is
a
chemical
that
is
made
by
the
human
body
and
found
in
the
brain.
It
is
the
chemical
responsible
for
making
us
feel
happy,
as
it
is
directly
connected
to
our
feelings
of
pleasure
and
being
rewarded.
Dopamine
is
what
allows
us
to
recognize
a
reward
and
motivates
us
to
do
whatever
possible
to
attain
that
reward.

Per
Psychology
Today,
low
dopamine
levels
in
people
can
result
in
certain
health
conditions,
like
depression
or
Parkinson's
disease.
People
who
suffer
from
lower
dopamine
levels
also
may
be
more
susceptible
to
forming
some
addiction.
One
dopamine
receptor,
in
particular,
is
linked
to
the
"risk-taking"
side
of
some
people's
personalities.

A Dopamine Deficiency Can Impact Your Ability to Function - Learn More Here

Symptoms
Of
Low
Dopamine

According
to
Medical
News
Today,
low
dopamine
symptoms
can
vary
wildly
because
it
depends
on
what
is
causing
the
dopamine
depletion
in
the
first
place.
For
instance,
those
who
develop
low
levels
of
dopamine
due
to
Parkinson's
disease
may
experience
different
symptoms
than
someone
who
has
too
little
dopamine
due
to
a
mental
health
disorder,
like
schizophrenia
or
depression.

Signs
of
low
dopamine
can
include:

Muscle
cramps,
aches,
pains,
and
stiffness

Constipation

Lack
of
energy
and
motivation

Difficulty
eating
and
swallowing

GERD

Pneumonia

Mood
swings

Anxiety

Lack
of
sex
drive

Suicidal
thoughts

Delusions

Dopamine
deficiency
symptoms
are
so
broad
that
everyone
can
probably
pick
out
a
few
and
be
led
to
believe
that
they
too
suffer
from
a
dopamine
deficiency.
Of
course,
the
only
way
to
determine
whether
you
are
suffering
from
a
dopamine
imbalance
is
to
be
diagnosed
and
treated
by
a
physician
who
specializes
in
the
area.

However,
no
magic
test
can
tell
a
doctor
exactly
what
your
dopamine
level
is.
Instead,
what
the
doctor
will
do
is
review
your
medical
history
and
evaluate
your
symptoms
and
lifestyle
to
determine
whether
you
may
be
suffering
from
a
condition
that
is
related
to
having
a
lower
level
of
dopamine.

Source:
goodfellow.af.mil

Low
Dopamine
Causes

The
causes
for
low
dopamine
levels
are
as
broad
as
the
symptoms
one
can
suffer
from
such
a
condition.
Dopamine
can
be
lowered
due
to
a
physical
or
mental
condition.
It
is
important
to
note
that
a
low
dopamine
level
does
not
cause
conditions
like
depression
or
psychosis;
it
is
simply
linked
to
these
conditions
as
a
byproduct.

Some
studies
show
that
drug
use
can
alter
the
levels
of
dopamine
in
the
brain.
So
too
can
a
person's
diet.
Studies
have
shown
that
a
diet
loaded
with
sugar
and
saturated
fat
and
low
in
protein
can
significantly
affect
the
levels
of
dopamine
in
the
brain.
On
a
related
note,
obese
people
tend
to
exhibit
lower
levels
of
dopamine.
However,
the
result
remains
inconclusive
insofar
as
how
much
of
an
effect
a
person's
diet
truly
has
on
his
or
her
levels
of
dopamine.

Treating
Low
Dopamine
Levels

To
treat
a
low
dopamine
level,
it
first
must
be
determined
what,
if
any,
is
the
cause
of
the
deficiency.
For
instance,
if
a
patient
is
diagnosed
with
depression,
his
or
her
doctor
will
then
prescribe
a
related
medication
which
may
contain
elements
that
can
boost
a
person's
dopamine
level.
Those
who
are
suffering
from
Parkinson's
disease
are
often
prescribed
ropinirole
and
pramipexole,
which
have
been
shown
to
be
effective
at
increasing
dopamine
levels
in
those
to
whom
they
are
prescribed.

Other
ways
of
treating
a
low
dopamine
level
may
include
counseling,
diet
and
lifestyle
changes,
and
physical
therapy,
which
can
help
with
a
patient's
muscle
issues
and,
by
proxy,
improve
his
or
her
dopamine
levels
by
improving
the
underlying
condition.

There
are,
of
course,
supplements
that
people
can
take
to
improve
deficiencies
in
dopamine.
These
supplements
are
typically
those
that
also
boost
levels
of
magnesium,
omega-3,
and
vitamin
D.
However,
the
jury
is
still
out
on
whether
these
supplements
are
truly
effective,
so
more
research
must
be
done
insofar
as
how
to
raise
dopamine
levels
more
effectively.

A Dopamine Deficiency Can Impact Your Ability to Function - Learn More Here

If
you're
not
one
for
taking
pills,
there
are
natural
dopamine
boosters
that
you
can
try,
such
as
exercising
and
meditating.
These
activities
work
to
improve
a
person's
overall
mood,
and
can,
therefore,
be
effective
ways
of
how
to
boost
dopamine
naturally
without
the
need
for
supplements
or
counseling.

Coping
With
Excess
Dopamine

While
some
folks
suffer
from
conditions
that
are
linked
to
lower
dopamine
levels,
some
people
have
too
much.
As
one
might
expect,
excess
dopamine
can
result
from
being
treated
with
a
drug
to
treat
a
condition
that
is
linked
to
a
lower
dopamine
level,
such
as
Parkinson's
disease.

Drug
use
can
also
cause
excessive
dopamine
levels
because
certain
drugs,
like
cocaine,
cause
dopamine
to
stockpile
in
the
brain.
This
can
lead
to
psychoses
like
schizophrenia.

Another
cause
for
higher
levels
of
dopamine
is
attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder.
This
makes
sense
because
when
someone
has
an
excess
level
of
dopamine,
this
makes
them
more
impulsive
and
more
likely
to
seek
out
instant
satisfaction.
Excess
dopamine
has
been
linked
to
addictive
behavior
such
as
that
which
is
seen
in
folks
with
issues
related
to
gambling,
drug
and
alcohol
use
(including
tobacco),
and
even
in
addictions
to
food.

Interestingly,
some
folks
will
develop
higher
dopamine
levels
after
suffering
a
nervous
breakdown.
This
is
because
the
brain
produces
dopamine
in
response
to
what
it
perceives
to
be
dangerous.
The
dopamine
then
helps
the
production
of
adrenaline,
which
aids
us
in
our
"flight
or
fight"
response
to
a
dangerous
situation.

However,
this
too
is
a
tricky
balance
because
when
we
are
overly
stressed
for
too
long,
we
experience
what
is
known
as
"burn
out."
When
we
have
"burned
out,"
we
are
suffering
from
depletion
of
dopamine
because,
simply,
we
used
all
of
ours
up.

What's
interesting
is
that
both
low
and
high
levels
of
dopamine
may
cause
the
same
symptoms,
such
as
anxiety.
However,
the
symptom
will
present
itself
differently
based
on
whether
the
person
has
a
higher
or
lower
level
of
dopamine.
In
other
words,
while
two
people
may
both
be
feeling
anxiety,
the
person
with
the
lower
level
of
dopamine
will
be
feeling
that
anxiety
differently
than
the
person
with
the
higher
level
of
dopamine.

Side
Effects
Of
Excess
Dopamine

There
are
more
severe
side
effects
of
having
an
overabundance
of
dopamine.
These
side
effects
can
include:

Infertility

Delayed
puberty

Issues
with
the
immune
system

Menstrual
disorders

This
means
that
someone
who
suffers
from
an
excess
level
of
dopamine
may
find
it
difficult
or
even
impossible
to
have
children.

Symptoms
Of
Excess
Dopamine

While
having
a
decrease
of
dopamine
can
lead
to
that
"feel
like
doing
nothing"
feeling,
an
increase
in
dopamine
has
the
opposite
effect.
Those
who
have
excess
dopamine
are
more
likely
to
take
risks
and
develop
addictive
behavior.
Some
of
the
symptoms
of
excess
dopamine
include
aggressive
or
overly
competitive
behavior,
euphoria,
and
a
lack
of
empathy.

The
symptoms
of
excessive
dopamine
levels
vary
because
it
all
depends
which
behaviors
are
being
influenced
by
each
particular
person.
For
instance,
while
it
may
cause
some
people
to
seek
out
their
next
skydiving
adventure,
it
may
cause
others
to
stay
up
all
night
playing
the
slots.
Some
people
develop
compulsions
and
addictions,
while
others
are
thrill-seekers
chasing
the
next
high
that
comes
from
scaling
a
mountain
or
going
extreme
dirt-biking.

Some
prescription
drugs
can
also
cause
excess
dopamine
levels.
For
instance,
antidepressants
are
aimed
at
increasing
a
person's
dopamine
levels
in
particular,
but
in
some
people,
it
may
react
with
the
person's
body
in
such
a
way
that
it
goes
overboard
and
does
its
job
too
well.

The
Delicate
Balance
Of
Dopamine

Dopamine
is
the
personification
of
"everything
in
moderation."
We
all
need
our
dopamine
levels
to
be
perfectly
balanced,
or
else
everything
goes
to
heck.
Too
little
dopamine
and
we
don't
feel
like
doing
anything
at
all.
Too
much
dopamine
and
we
want
to
take
on
the
world
to
the
point
where
we
may
be
putting
ourselves
in
danger.

Source:
pexels.com

Dopamine,
when
kept
in
check,
can
be
a
fantastic
motivator,
helping
us
to
see
our
goals
ahead
of
us
and
giving
us
the
energy
to
go
after
them.
A
lower
level
of
dopamine
is
what
keeps
us
on
the
couch,
getting
down
on
ourselves
because
we
simply
can't
go
after
we
want
and
we
don't
understand
why.

A
higher
level
of
dopamine
has
us
seeing
the
goal,
blowing
past
it,
and
knocking
everyone
down
who
stands
in
our
way
to
the
next
one.
Or,
conversely,
a
higher
level
of
dopamine
can
lead
to
addictive
behavior
that,
let's
face
it,
can
be
as
bad
as
sitting
on
the
couch
doing
nothing
insofar
as
meeting
our
long-term
goals.

If
you
struggle
with
a
decreased
level
of
dopamine
and
one
of
its
associated
conditions,
or,
conversely,
if
you
suffer
from
an
excessive
level
of
dopamine
and
one
of
its
related
conditions,
and
you
find
that
either
situation
is
wreaking
havoc
on
your
life,
consider
reaching
out
to
a
licensed
counselor
for
help.
Our
counselors
can
help
you
get
the
help
you
need
by
pointing
you
in
the
right
direction
and
guiding
you
toward
your
next
steps.

The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.

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